This Day In Latino History

On this day in 2007, an ongoing conflict between Rio de Janeiro, Brazil police and drug gangs in the Complexo do Alemão neighborhood escalated to a bloody massacre. The incident occurred when police were dispatched to secure the neighborhood during the XV Pan American Games. According to a report later issued by The Order of Attorneys of Brazil, executions carried out by the police occurred during their occupation of the many favelas there. At least eleven of those killed had no association to drug trafficking whatsoever. These claims remain in dispute since no hard evidence was provided. Three of those killed were minors and over 40 people have been killed in Complexo do Alemão since May of 2007.